Bank’s Toropapa

Botanical name: Alseuosmia banksii var. banksii

Common name(s): Bank’s Toropapa, Northern Karapapa

Plant facts:

Alseuosmia banksii is a distinctive and highly variable Northland forest shrub endemic to northern New Zealand. It is valued for its attractive foliage, colourful berries, and delicate scented flowers. Plants may vary dramatically in leaf size and shape, even within the same population.

Natural habitat:

Occurs naturally in lowland Northland forest, forest margins, and shaded understories.

Growing environment:

Prefers sheltered forest conditions with moist, well-drained soils and semi-shade. Best suited to cool, humid native woodland environments.

Endemic distribution:

Endemic to the North Island from Te Paki south to the northern margins of Auckland.

Growth habit:

Bushy slender shrub usually reaching around 1 m tall, though occasionally larger in ideal conditions. Branchlets are fine, spreading, reddish-brown, and softly hairy.

Foliage:

Leaves are highly variable in both size and shape. They are usually broad-ovate, elliptic, or obovate with coarse teeth or deep lobes, particularly near the upper margins. Smaller-leaved forms may have nearly entire leaf margins.

Leaves are often flushed or flecked with reddish colouring and are carried on slender flattened petioles.

Flowers:

Flowers occur singly or in small clusters of 2–3. Tubular flowers are greenish-yellow to cream-white, often tinged with red, with finely fringed lobes.

Plants may flower while still very small, sometimes only 30 cm tall.

Flowering colours:
Cream, White

Fruit:

Produces small rounded to slightly top-shaped red berries.

Habitat:

Primarily found in Northland forest understories, especially in humid and sheltered sites.

Threats:

Currently classified as Not Threatened, however it is extremely palatable to browsing animals and is often absent from areas frequented by:

• Goats
• Cattle
• Sheep
• Horses

Propagation:

• Cuttings strike relatively easily
• Seed germination is very difficult
• Rooted plants can be difficult to maintain long term

Best grown in semi-shaded, sheltered positions with reliable moisture and excellent drainage.

Uses:

• Native woodland gardens
• Shade planting
• Restoration understorey species
• Botanical collections
• Habitat enhancement

Special features:

One of New Zealand’s most variable native shrubs, with leaf forms ranging from deeply lobed to almost entire. Its delicate flowers and red berries make it an attractive but uncommon garden species.